Running out of options...need help :-(

RubySoho13

My partner was made redundant just before Christmas. I work at a local college but am on a low income.
He has been turned down for JSA, initially because he was told that he had not made enough N.I. contributions, however when we challenged this we were told it was because I work, even though they had not asked for details of my income or our expenditure.
He has since been signed off work with depression (which is getting worse by the day) and anxiety so made a new claim for ESA. He has just been told he's been turned down for this too, same reasons as above and again with no details of my income or expenditure.
We are in receipt of a small amount of housing benefit but nothing else. This leaves him with a zero income and me struggling to keep us afloat as I don't make enough to cover all our bills and feed and clothe us.
I have been encouraging my partner to apply to go back in to education. I arranged an appointment with a member of the team that deals with routes and destinations within education where I work and it sounded really positive but because of the latest set back from the job centre with the ESA claim my partner has lost enthusiasm, saying that there's no point applying for courses as he won't get funding.
I have applied for Council Tax Reduction but been turned down; I've applied for working tax credits but been told this can take 7 weeks to turn around. This month the day after I had been paid I had zero money left. I love a bargain as much as the next person but trying to support two people on minimum wage is impossible, not to mention the detrimental effect it's having on my partners mental health and our relationship. I looked at taking a second job but I already work long hours and would be taxed so heavily it would hardly be worth it.
Does anyone have ANY advice on what I can do? I have tried to do everything properly and be honest but we just keep hitting brick walls at every stage. I'm running out of ideas so any suggestions would be most welcome :-) Thanks very much.

agrinnall

I think you would get better responses if you posted this on the Benefits board instead, as the real issue you have is determining why your partner is being turned down for JSA and ESA.

On one of your points, if you are in a minimum wage job then a second job will not "be taxed so heavily", it'll be taxed at 20% and it's pretty likely that you won't need to pay any NI on those earnings.

RubySoho13

Thanks for your response. I thought I had posted in the benefits section but have re-posted my query in what I think is the right place now. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.